IPC GUIDE TO PARA AND IPC TERMINOLOGY
JANUARY 2021
INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Introduction ...... 3 2 Usage of Para and Paralympic ...... 3 3 Paralympic/IPC Terminology ...... 4 4 Event Terminology ...... 6 4.1 Paralympic Games ...... 6 4.2 IPC sport events ...... 7 5 IPC Committees and Assembly Official Names ...... 8 6 Sports and Disciplines ...... 8 7 Regions ...... 10 8 Acronyms ...... 10 9 Country Names and Codes ...... 13
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1 INTRODUCTION The IPC Guide to Para and IPC Terminology is a detailed reference document on the terminologies associated with the International Paralympic Committee and the Paralympic Movement. It covers a wide range of topics such as correct usage of terms, event naming, acronyms and more.
2 USAGE OF PARA AND PARALYMPIC Paralympic, Paralympics and Paralympian can only be used with reference to the Paralympic Games. For all sport outside of that, the word Para can be used (capitalised and followed by a space), provided that the International Federation (IF) is a member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) or recognised by the IPC.
Preferred Term: Para athlete
A general term for pro and amateur athletes with an impairment who play sport but have not competed at a Paralympic Games.
An athlete is only a Paralympian once he/she has taken part in a Paralympic Games
Incorrect terms: Paralympian, Paralympic athlete
Correct Term: Paralympian / Paralympic athlete
An athlete who has taken part in a Paralympic Games.
A Paralympian is never a former/ex-Paralympian. If a Para athlete has taken part once, he/she is a Paralympian ‘for life’. If the person is no longer an athlete, then he/she is a former athlete.
Incorrect terms: Para Olympian / Former Paralympian
Correct Term: Paralympic sport
A general reference to any sport on the Paralympic Games programme.
This is only used when referring to the sport’s involvement in the Paralympic Games.
The International Federation of the sport must be recognised by the IPC.
Incorrect terms: Para Olympic sport
Correct Term: Para sport or sport for athletes with a disability, athlete/person with disability, athlete/person with vision impairment, athlete/person with physical and intellectual impairment.
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Para sport will be defined to mean any sport in which people with a disability participate and which has classification rules compliant with the IPC Athlete Classification Code.
All sport for athletes with a disability whether they feature on the Paralympic programme or not. And the respective International Federation must, however, be recognised by the IPC.
The term ‘Para’ can only be used for sports that are recognised by the IPC.
The IPC chooses the first-person language, ie, addressing the athlete first and then his/her disability. Therefore, the right term encouraged by the IPC is ‘athlete/person with disability’ and ‘persons/people with disabilities’.
Incorrect terms: disabled sport, disability sport, disabled athlete, disabled person, blind athlete, blind person
3 PARALYMPIC/IPC TERMINOLOGY Term Description
Continuous Dialogue Non-committal discussions between the IOC and Interested Parties with regard to hosting future Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Demonstration events Sport events hosted at a Paralympic competition with the purpose of becoming a sport on the Paralympic Programme.
Exhibition event An example of a promotional opportunity/an event opportunity.
IF sport A sport governed by an International Federation (IF)
IOSD Sport A sport governed by an International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSD).
Interested Party(ies) City/Region/Country/National Olympic Committee (NOC) / associated individuals interested in hosting a future edition of the Olympic Summer/Winter Games and Paralympic Summer/Winter Games.
IPC sport/World Para A sport governed by the International Paralympic sport Committee (IPC).
IPC member All sport entities (NPCs, IFs, IOSDs, ROs) who are recognised and full members of the International Paralympic Committee.
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IPC headquarters The city and country where the International Paralympic Committee is located - Bonn, Germany.
IPC narrative Change Starts With Sport
Paralympic Games or The summer and winter Games held every four years Paralympics (informal for Paralympic athletes. term) Incorrect Term: Para Olympics
Paralympic anthem The Paralympic anthem is played when the Paralympic flag is raised.
Paralympic emblem The three Agitos (from the Latin meaning ‘I move’) encircling a central point symbolise motion, emphasise the role of the Paralympic Movement in bringing athletes together from all corners of the world to compete. The three colours of the Agitos - red, blue and green - are most widely represented in national flags around the world.
Paralympic Family All the persons belonging to the IPC or Paralympic Movement
Paralympic flag White flag with Paralympic emblem
Paralympic flame The Paralympic flame is lit from the Paralympic Torch at the start of the Paralympic Games. It remains lit until extinguished at the end of the Closing Ceremony.
Paralympic vision To make for an inclusive world through sport
Paralympic mission To lead the Paralympic Movement, oversee the delivery of the Paralympic Games and support members to enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence.
Paralympic Movement Paralympic Movement includes the Members of the IPC and other persons and entities involved in the promotion, organisation, or delivery of Para sport or who participate in it. All athletes and officials from the NPCs, the IOSDs, the International Federations, the Regional Organisations, the IPC Regional Committees, the IOSD Sports, the IPC Sports Committees, IPC Councils, IPC Standing Committees, other IPC bodies and any other persons or organisations who agree to be guided by the IPC Constitution and Bylaws form a part of the Movement. The criteria for being a part of the
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Movement is a formal membership or recognition by the IPC, or the Paralympic Family.
Paralympic programme Collective term for the sports events taking place at the Paralympic Games.
Paralympic spirit The aura of the Paralympic Movement
Paralympic sponsors Commercial supporters of the IPC
Paralympic sport(s) A sport that is on the Paralympic programme
Paralympic Torch The Paralympic Torch is lit a few days before the Paralympic Games.
Paralympic torchbearer A Paralympic torchbearer carries the Paralympic Torch.
Paralympic venue A major Games site that hosts competition or other primary Games events and activities (eg, Opening and Closing Ceremony, athlete accommodation, Paralympic Family Hotel).
Paralympic Village The Village is where the athletes live during the Paralympic Games.
ParalympicSport.TV The IPC’s Internet TV channel:
www.ParalympicSport.TV www.YouTube.com/ParalympicSportTV
Preferred Host(s) Interested Party/ies identified by the IOC Executive Board following Continuous Dialogue based on recommendations from the Future Host Commissions to enter into a Targeted Dialogue for an edition specific Games.
Targeted Dialogue A period during which the IOC Executive Board targets one or more Preferred Hosts to develop a project for a specific edition of the Games.
4 EVENT TERMINOLOGY 4.1 PARALYMPIC GAMES When addressing the Paralympic Games, use various formal or informal terms depending on the inclusion of the city and/or year. The preferred term should be used on first usage, after which other formal or informal terms may be used where appropriate.
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Format Term
Paralympic Summer Games First usage: Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
Subsequent usage: 2020 Paralympic [City] [Year] Paralympic Games Games, Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Tokyo 2020
Paralympic Winter Games First usage: Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games
Subsequent usage: Beijing 2022 [City] [Year] Paralympic Winter Winter Paralympics, Paralympic Winter Games Games, 2022 Paralympics, Beijing 2022
Note:
The Paralympic Games should not be referred to by the number of its edition (eg, XI Paralympic Winter Games) or as Games of the Paralympiad. The term Paralympic Games refers only to summer editions of the Paralympic Games. Any reference to winter editions should use the term Paralympic Winter Games. The timeline for selecting future hosts is divided into two dialogue stages: - Continuous Dialogue: Non-committal discussions between the IOC and Interested Parties with regard to hosting future Olympic and Paralympic Games. The IPC contributes to these discussions on an on-going and as needed basis. - Targeted Dialogue: Targeted discussions with one or more Preferred Host(s), as instructed by the IOC Executive Board. This follows a recommendation by the Future Host Commission as a result of Continuous Dialogue. The IOC Executive Board draws up the final list of Preferred Host(s) for an edition of the Games and is submitted to the IOC Session. The Host is elected by the IOC Session.
4.2 IPC SPORT EVENTS Event Format Example
National Multi-Sport: 2019 Colombia Para Championships National Games [Year] [Nation] Para National Games 2019 Colombia Para Sport Games
Single Sport: 2015 Japan Para Swimming Championships [Year] [Nation] [Sport] Championships
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State/Local Multi-Sport: 2016 Ontario Para Games Championships [Year] [State/Local] Para Games
Single Sport: 2017 Barcelona Archery Championships [Year] [State/Local] [Sport] Championships
World and Please get in touch with Ms. Annika Zeyen, World Para Regional Sports Brand Manager at [email protected] Championships, for naming conventions World Cups and Grand Prix
Note:
For non-IPC sports, the official event title should be used. The term ‘Paralympic Games’ cannot be used for a national event. The IPC would prefer NPCs to adhere to this format for National and State Championships to maintain consistency.
5 IPC COMMITTEES AND ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL NAMES Committee/Assembly Official Term
[Year] IPC General Assembly IPC General Assembly Eg: 2019 IPC General Assembly
Olympic and Paralympic [City][Year] Organising Committee for the Olympic Organising Committees and Paralympic [Winter] Games
Eg, First usage: Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Subsequent usage: Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee
6 SPORTS AND DISCIPLINES Sports and disciplines are always written in lower case, except if they refer to the brand name, eg, World Para Athletics. The brand name should never be shortened. Abbreviations may only be used for results, but never in external documents.
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‘Para’ must be used before the sport, if a distinction is necessary between able- bodied sport, eg, John Smith was world champion on the able-bodied ski circuit, before he began Para table tennis. ‘Para’ should always be capitalised and be followed by a space.
Sports and disciplines governed by the IPC
Abbreviation Sport Brand name/Federations
AS Para alpine skiing World Para Alpine Skiing
AT Para athletics World Para Athletics
BT Para biathlon World Para Nordic Skiing
CC Para cross-country skiing (If World Para Nordic Skiing the context is clear, this can on second reference be informally referred to as cross-country)
NS Para nordic skiing World Para Nordic Skiing
IH Para ice hockey World Para Ice Hockey
PO Para powerlifting World Para Powerlifting
SB Para snowboard World Para Snowboard
SH Shooting Para sport World Shooting Para Sport
SW Para swimming World Para Swimming
DS Para dance sport World Para Dance Sport
Sports and disciplines governed by IOSDs
FB Football 5-a-side IBSA
GB Goalball IBSA
JU Para judo IBSA
WF Wheelchair fencing IWAS
Sports and disciplines governed by International Federation (IF)
AR Para archery World Archery
BO Boccia BISFED
CY Para cycling (disciplines: road UCI (CR – Cycling and track) Road, CT – Cycling Track)
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EQ Para equestrian (disciplines: FEI dressage)
TT Para table tennis ITTF
RO Para rowing FISA
SV Sitting volleyball World ParaVolley
WB Wheelchair basketball IWBF
WC Wheelchair curling WCF
WR Wheelchair rugby IWRF
WT Wheelchair tennis ITF
TR Para triathlon WT
CA Para canoe ICF
BD Para badminton BWF
TK Para taekwondo World Taekwondo
7 REGIONS A Regional/Continental Paralympic Organisation is an independent organisation recognised as the sole representative of the IPC members within a specific region/continent as recognised by the IPC.
European Paralympic Committee (EPC) Oceania Paralympic Committee (OPC) Asian Paralympic Committee Americas Paralympic Committee African Paralympic Committee Note: For African Paralympic Committee, Asian Paralympic Committee and Americas Paralympic Committee, use full names as much as possible. Acronym (APC) should be used only if the reference is to one region in specific.
8 ACRONYMS Acronyms can only be used upon second use and should be avoided altogether in external documents.
Acronym Terminologies
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BAC Board of Appeal of Classification
BISFED Boccia International Sports Federation
BWF Badminton World Federation
CAS Court of Arbitration for Sport
CISS International Committee of Sports for the Deaf
CPISRA Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association
EBU European Broadcasting Union
EPC European Paralympic Committee
FEI International Federation for Equestrian Sports
FIPFA International Federation of Powerchair Football Association
FOP Field of Play
IPC GA IPC General Assembly
GAISF Global Association of International Sports Federations
IBSA International Blind Sports Federation
IBSF International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation
ICAS International Council of Arbitration for Sport
ICF International Canoe Federation
ICSSPE International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education
IF International Federation
IFCPF International Federation of CP Football
IFSC International Federation of Sport Climbing
IGF International Golf Federation
IHF International Handball Federation
FIH International Hockey Federation
IOC International Olympic Committee
IOSD International Organisation of Sport for the Disabled
IPC International Paralympic Committee
IPC SF IPC Sports Forum
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IPD International Paralympic Day
ITF International Tennis Federation
ITTF International Table Tennis Federation
IWAS International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation
IWBF International Wheelchair Basketball Federation
IWRF International Wheelchair Rugby Federation
Virtus Virtus – World Intellectual Impairment Sport
LOC Local Organising Committee
MQS Minimum Qualification Standard
NPC National Paralympic Committee
OCOG Organising Committee for the Olympic Games
ODI Organisational Development Initiative
OGKS Olympic Games Knowledge Service
OPC Oceania Paralympic Committee
PG Paralympic Games
POC Paralympic Organising Committee
PRIS Paralympic Results Information Systems
PSD Paralympic School Day
PWG Paralympic Winter Games
RC Regional Championships
RO Regional Organisation
IPC SC IPC Sports Council
SCMC IPC Sports Council Management Committee
SOI Special Olympics International
SSC Sport Science Committee
TD Technical Delegate
TO Technical Official
TOK Transfer of Knowledge
TOP Olympic Partner Programme
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UCI International Cycling Union
UIPM Modern Pentathlon International Union
UWC Universality Wild Card
VIK Value in Kind
WA World Archery
WADA World Anti-Doping Agency
WADC World Anti-Doping Code
WAF World Armwrestling Federation
WCH World Championships
WCUP World Cup
WFDF World Flying Disc Federation
WKF World Karate Federation
WPV World ParaVolley
WSF World Squash Federation
WS World Sailing
9 COUNTRY NAMES AND CODES For all official documents and protocol occasions use the official country name in the order below.
Country (Code) Country (Code) Country (Code)
Afghanistan (AFG) Algeria (ALG) Andorra (AND)
Angola (ANG) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina (ARG) (ANT)
Armenia (ARM) Aruba (ARU) Australia (AUS)
Austria (AUT) Azerbaijan (AZE) Bahrain (BRN)
Barbados (BAR) Belarus (BLR) Belgium (BEL)
Benin (BEN) Bermuda (BER) Bhutan (BTN)
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Bosnia and Botswana (BOT) Brazil (BRA) Herzegovina (BIH)
Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria (BUL) Burkina Faso (BUR) (BRU)
Burundi (BDI) Cambodia (CAM) Cameroon (CMR)
Canada (CAN) Cape Verde (CPV) Central African Republic (CAF)
Chile (CHI) Chinese Taipei (TPE) Colombia (COL)
Comoros (COM) Congo (CGO) Costa Rica (CRC)
Côte d'Ivoire (CIV) Croatia (CRO) Cuba (CUB)
Cyprus (CYP) Czech Republic (CZE) Democratic People's Republic of Korea (PRK)
Democratic Republic of Democratic Republic of Denmark (DEN) the Congo (COD) Timor-Leste (TLS)
Djibouti (DJI) Dominican Republic Ecuador (ECU) (DOM)
Egypt (EGY) El Salvador (ESA) Estonia (EST)
Ethiopia (ETH) Faroe Islands (FRO) Fiji (FIJ)
Finland (FIN) France (FRA) Gabon (GAB)
Gambia (GAM) Georgia (GEO) Germany (GER)
Ghana (GHA) Great Britain (GBR) Greece (GRE)
Grenada (GRN) Guatemala (GUA) Guinea (GUI)
Guinea-Bissau (GBS) Guyana (GUY) Haiti (HAI)
Honduras (HON) Hong Kong, China (HKG) Hungary (HUN)
Iceland (ISL) India (IND) Indonesia (INA)
Iraq (IRQ) Ireland (IRL) Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI)
Israel (ISR) Italy (ITA) Jamaica (JAM)
Japan (JPN) Jordan (JOR) Kazakhstan (KAZ)
Kenya (KEN) Kiribati (KIR) Kuwait (KUW)
Kyrgyzstan (KGZ) Lao People's Democratic Latvia (LAT) Republic (LAO)
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Lebanon (LBN) Lesotho (LES) Liberia (LBR)
Libya (LBA) Liechtenstein (LIE) Lithuania (LTU)
Luxembourg (LUX) Macao, China (MAC) Madagascar (MAD)
Malawi (MAW) Malaysia (MAS) Maldives (MDV)
Mali (MLI) Malta (MLT) Mauritius (MRI)
Mexico (MEX) Mongolia (MGL) Montenegro (MNE)
Morocco (MAR) Mozambique (MOZ) Myanmar (MYA)
Namibia (NAM) Nepal (NEP) Netherlands (NED)
New Zealand (NZL) Nicaragua (NCA) Niger (NIG)
Nigeria (NGR) North Macedonia (MKD) Norway (NOR)
Oman (OMA) Pakistan (PAK) Palestine (PLE)
Panama (PAN) Papua New Guinea (PNG) Paraguay (PAR)
People's Republic of Peru (PER) Philippines (PHI) China (CHN)
Poland (POL) Portugal (POR) Puerto Rico (PUR)
Qatar (QAT) Republic of Korea (KOR) Republic of Moldova (MDA)
Romania (ROU) Russian Federation (RUS) Rwanda (RWA)
Samoa (SAM) San Marino (SMR) Sao Tome and Principe (STP)
Saudi Arabia (KSA) Senegal (SEN) Serbia (SRB)
Seychelles (SEY) Sierra Leone (SLE) Singapore (SGP)
Slovakia (SVK) Slovenia (SLO) Solomon Islands (SOL)
Somalia (SOM) South Africa (RSA) Spain (ESP)
Sri Lanka (SRI) St Vincent and the Sudan (SUD) Grenadines (VIN)
Suriname (SUR) Sweden (SWE) Switzerland (SUI)
Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan (TJK) Thailand (THA) (SYR)
Togo (TOG) Tonga (TGA) Trinidad and Tobago (TRI)
Tunisia (TUN) Turkey (TUR) Turkmenistan (TKM)
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Uganda (UGA) Ukraine (UKR) United Arab Emirates (UAE)
United Republic of United States of America Uruguay (URU) Tanzania (TAN) (USA)
US Virgin Islands (ISV) Uzbekistan (UZB) Vanuatu (VAN)
Venezuela (VEN) Vietnam (VIE) Yemen (YEM)
Zambia (ZAM) Zimbabwe (ZIM)
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